A significant stretch of land along Fall Creek—the main source of Cornell University’s drinking water—has been preserved through a partnership between the Finger Lakes Land Trust and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The 260-acre property in Summerhill, Cayuga County, boasts 10,000 feet of creek frontage, diverse forests, wetlands with rare orchids, and agricultural fields that will remain in production.
Funded by the state’s Water Quality Improvement Project program, a perpetual conservation easement was established to protect the land and create a 120-acre buffer zone of untouched wetlands along Fall Creek. This effort not only safeguards Cornell’s drinking water but also supports municipal water supplies drawn from Cayuga Lake. The area connects to other conservation lands and provides habitat for native brook trout and important bird species.
State officials emphasized that protecting land is crucial for water quality and long-term environmental health. The land trust noted the easement as a win for Fall Creek’s water quality. The property remains privately owned and will continue to allow traditional uses like farming and hunting.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.